Good turnout for Hobbs Reunion

I don't have the official count yet, but it looked like there were at least 200 people in the gym by about 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon, where everyone had gathered for a barbecue dinner served by Rough Creek Catering. The lines were very long, allowing for a lot of visiting and teasing of old schoolmates.

Ricky Williams really got everyone going during the program, he's such a cut-up. He was also elected the new president of the homecoming committee for 2010. Carla Guinn Bavousett, Glenda Hudnal Allen and Peggy Trice Vernon rounded out the rest of the morning with recognition of guests, homecoming business and memorials given on behalf of loved ones. The gospel quartet Cornerstone provided entertainment.

I only meant to stay about thirty minutes when suddenly three hours had flown by. There were so many people to talk to and look at, I didn't get an opportunity to say hello to everyone I knew. The weather cooperated wonderfully, no wind and just the perfect fall temperature.

A reunion page is in the making and I'll let you know when it's done so you can click on the link and see all the pictures I took. Today's photo is of Francis Morgan & Pat Porter at the registration table. The whole reunion committee did a wonderful job and the event was well organized. I was glad to see lots of people purchasing commemorative blankets.

Okay, on to the Roby Star Record / Rotan Advance update for Oct. 16, 2008, a weekly periodical owned, published and edited by Rosemary Donham, as you all probably know:

• Chamber of Commerce Hog Fest very successful year, gross $13,000 in proceeds (photo)
  
• Donation to Crime Stoppers by Fisher County Sheriff (photo)
• Rotan VFD hosts Associational meeting (photo)
• 500 Bikers attend Hog Fest Bike Rally (photo)
• Early voting to open Oct. 20
• Commissioners approve reports, application for Block Grant regarding possible assisted living center
• Fisher County Roundup by Joy Walker
• Roby council agrees to hire another employee, field reports from Brown
• Pastor's Column by Jack Dominguez
• Fisher County RV Club minutes
• Roofing bids being taken for courthouse
• Rotan Jr. High honor roll
• Tumbleweed Smith: A Steam Engine Buried in Metroplex Quicksand
• Birth announcement for Kayden & Karlee Gilbreath (photo)
• Rotan ISD public meeting Oct. 20
• Roby CISD announcements
• Tax Planning by Gerald Rodgers: Hiring Your Child may Help Avoid the Kiddie Tax
• Rotan Elementary honor roll
• Roby CISD honor roll
• Birth announcement for Rowdy Ryan Sauceda
• Flu shots for veterans
• Yellowhammers & Lions sports reports (photos)
• Hog Fest & Biker Fest photo montage page
• Brush Sculpting course offered in Snyder (herbiciding technique)
  
• Fisher County feral hog control
• Fisher County Ag Day
• 4-H news
• State Representative Joe Heflin article (photo)
• Fisher County Sheriff's report
• Randy's Roundup: financial markets and fighting for American taxpayers; House and Senate pass bill to fix disaster program, suspend 10- acre provision in Farm Bill; working in the 19th District
• Correction to over-budget amount in last issue: budget deficit is $117,319
• Landes prize winners
• Roby & Rotan Lions Club collecting used eyeglasses
• VA director Marsh receives approval
• CRP / Pasture fire keeps local fire depts. busy
• Fisher County Historical Society meeting minutes

As I have mentioned before, this is just a smidge of what's in the paper. Now is a good time to get your subscription. If you're in Rotan, stop by The Newspaper office and check out the beautiful and unique gift items.

This coming Friday Roby will play Rotan in Rotan, and Rotan will play... well, you know.

Enjoy this great weather we're having and I hope you're getting your costumes ready for trick or treating in less than two weeks.

Go Panthers!

Hog Fest Bike Rally a success

I talked to Catherine and Lawrence Weatherman at the Bike Rally last night and they said that there was quite a turn out during the day, making the event rather profitable. We drove past the Hog Fest in Roby earlier yesterday, and it looked like they had a good crowd, too.

My band friends Lawless Flatz played the Rally last night and they sound really good since they added drummer Fred Perez to the mix.

Isaac Donaghey was on the security team for the Rally. Don't know if we were safer or in more danger because of that. Just kidding, Isaac! Sort of.

If any of you are interested in the book Cattle Call by Tanner Laine, it can now be purchased at halfbay or at Saddlebag Books Online. The book is described as a large collection of cowboy stories, most of which appeared in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. 356 pp., index of cowboy faces, black and white photos throughout.

Laine was a veteran reporter for The Avalanche-Journal, covering West Texas news and the people of the South Plains from 1952 until his retirement in 1978.

I have a lot of ground to cover since I have missed the past three issues of the newspaper. I'll start from the latest and go back.

Here are the headlines from the Oct. 9, 2008 issue of the Roby Star Record / Rotan Advance:

• Big Country Electric part of Hurricane Ike emergency crew (photo)
• Shelby Spikes places in State Fair of Texas (photo)
• Neugebauer visits Fisher County (photo)
• FCAA monthly meeting (photo)
• Early voting opens Oct. 20
• Roby Project Christmas organizational meeting to be held Oct. 13, 5:30 p.m., courthouse coffee room
• Obituary for Beth Rene Simmons Campbell
• Notice of general election
• AARP Driver Safety Program to be held at Sweetwater SNAP Oct. 14 & 15
• Sheriff's report
• Recipe Corner: Sunshine Gelatin Mold
• The Newspaper Office now has a selection of Christmas gifts & decor
• What's happening in 4-H
• Wedding announcement for Megan Rae Fletcher and Aaron Gene Greene (photo)
• Hunter education certification Oct. 18
• Roofing bids being accepted for courthouse
• Rotan ISD to hold public meeting Oct. 20
• Roby school board awards bid for activity room turf
• Engagement announcement for Monika LoAnn Rivas to Jay Lee Roe (photo)
• Tumbleweed Smith: From Victim to Victory
• Joe Strickland named HSU Distinguished Alumni (photo)
• Yellowhammers & Lions sports reports
• Rotan ISD students participate at State Fair of Texas (photos)
• Fisher County Roundup by Joy Walker
• Randy's Roundup: Financial markets and fighting for American taxpayers; House & Senate pass bill to fix disaster program, Suspend 10-acre provision in Farm Bill; Working in the 19th District
• Pastor's column by Jerry Vincent
• 2008-09 Roby High School National Honor Society Induction Ceremony

Oct. 2 issue:

• Rotan Homecoming King & Queen, Derrek Reese and Cynthia Alba (photo)
• Fisher County Commissioners hold special meeting to amend budget, over $278,739.73 for 2008 (wow, no one seemed to think that was a big deal in the court, "ah, just pencil it in")
• Commissioner Staples welcomes Rotan to Go Texan Rural Community Program
• News Briefs: flu immunization; West Texas Rehab annual pig sale; Roby Project Christmas
• Air Force Airman Jeremy Sauceda graduates basic training (photo)
• Three-way partnership announced at Western Texas College, lineman course to be offered
• Fourth & fifth grades Dowell School early forties photo (hey, Haskell Templeton is in the picture!)
• Pastor's Column by Charles C. Glidewell
• Fisher County Roundup by Joy Walker
• Rural well water screening available
• Citation for an estate
• See you at the pole (photo)
• Fisher County designated road notice
• Yellowhammers & Lions sports reports (photos)
• Tumbleweed Smith: Be Careful About Buying Gifts on Vacation
• Michele Goodwin shows off handmade jewelery (photo)
• Recipe Corner: Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore
• Neugebauer statement on the emergency economic stabilization act of 2008
• Sheriff's report
• Fisher County 4-H news
• Roby School Board Election Nov. 4
• The Rotan Advance / Roby Star Record will be closed on Fridays throughout Oct.
• Notice for fluid injection well permit by LCS Production Company, for Rough Creek

Sept. 25 issue:

• Rotan homecoming King & Queen nominees (photos)
• Hospital board approves budget, sets tax rate; Dr. Mary Parish to begin practice in Oct.
• Lions Club Buckner visits Lions World Services for the Blind in Little Rock, Ark. (photo)
• Obituary for Jiggs Chadwick (photo), Peggy Ballenger Neves
  
• Roby CISD holding public meeting Oct. 13 in the home economics room, high school
• Tax Planning by Gerald Rodgers, CPA
• Engagement announcement for Whitney Lauren Cobey to Ty Wilson Daws (photo)
• Birth announcement for Colson Ridge Moffett (photo, very, very sweet with his brother)
• Angel Velez places at fair in Lubbock
• Tumbleweed Smith: Thousands Watch Waterfire in Providence
• Hurricane affected counties in Texas extend NAP waiver deadline due to temporary USDA FSA office closures
• Roby city council sets tax rate, adopts budget
• Yellowhammers & Lions sports reports (photos)
• Rotan homecoming remember when photos (3 pages)
  
• Birth announcements for Emily Jazz-Leen Ortiz and Kaden Lynn Scherwitz (photos)
• Sheriff's report
• Fisher County Roundup by Joy Walker
• Fisher County 4-H participate in Jones County Fair during Sept.
• Delta Kappa Gamma meeting (photo)
• Roby CISD class officers (photos)
• Randy's Roundup: Securing the economy and financial markets; celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month; The Public Prayer Protection Act

This Friday Rotan Yellowhammers will play Haskell there, Roby Lions will play Hamlin here.

Remember, the Hobbs Reunion is this coming weekend. Be sure to show yourself and let Pat know you're coming.

Hobbs Reunion registration

Pat Porter has sent out the registration form for the Hobbs 2008 Reunion, which is set for Oct. 18.

Click here to link to the registration page.

I found I could print the form by selecting (left click, hold and drag) the portion of the registration page from the stars down, go to the top bar and click "file", "print", "selection", "ok".

You can also just contact Pat one of the ways listed on the registration link to get signed up.

It's only two weeks away, plan on coming!

Frank Cockrell Art Association meeting Monday Oct. 6

The FCAA will have a meeting Monday Oct. 6 to discuss plans for an art show during the upcoming Hog Fest that will be taking place Oct. 11. If you want to have your work represented in the show, but are unable to be at the courthouse early on Oct. 11, then please bring your work to the meeting on the sixth. The association will store your pieces and arrange for display. Everyone is being encouraged to participate.

The meeting has been set for 7 p.m. at the Fisher County Pioneer Museum in Roby. The FCAA wants to propose continuing art in the museum. Members of the Fisher County Historical Commission have been invited to attend the meeting in order to get their opinion.

Once again, that meeting will take place Monday, Oct. 6 in the museum at Roby at 7 p.m. There will be no program, only attention to business.